Page 180 of Ruined Wrath
Cormac shakes his head, smiling, and I swear I could watch him for hours like this.
There’s a kind of magic in seeing him so relaxed.
I laugh as I break into the cookies. “This is my idea of heaven.”
“I swear, it’s like I have two children,” Cormac grumbles as he pulls out a sad-looking bag of carrots.
After Scout and I have devoured most of the picnic, the three of us move to sit on the edge of the bank with our feet dangling over the edge and our toes brushing the mist that drifts off the falls.
Scout has chocolate smeared across his cheek, and I lean over to wipe it, catching the sparkle of his excitement in his eyes.
He’s more fidgety than usual, but that might also have something to do with the enormous amount of sugar he’s just consumed.
“Is it time yet?” Scout suddenly asks.
I frown. “Time for what?”
“You know… Time!”
“Forwhat?”
I look to Cormac for answers, only to find him chuckling, clearly amused by Scout’s impatience.
“Yes, Scout. It’s time.”
My heart lurches.
I swear if someone doesn’t tell me what’s going on, I’m going to lose my mind.
“You haven’t brought me out here to murder me, have you?” I ask, a little panicked as Cormac gets to his feet.
He laughs. “Seriously? That’s where your mind goes?”
“It is when you have a best friend who is obsessed with true crime documentaries.”
“Well, it’s a little too late to go back now, Fiona Callahan.”
He holds out his hand for me to take.
I let him pull me to my feet, wondering if he’s about to lead us to another secret spot within the forest, when Scout starts bouncing up and down.
Scout tugs on Cormac’s sleeve. “You go first, Daddy!”
“Go first? Go first for what? Cormac, what’s going o?—”
My breath gets stuck in my throat as Cormac all of a sudden, drops to one knee and pulls a ring box out of his pocket.
I stare at him, completely stunned.
That is, until Scout drops down beside him and pulls out another jewelry box from his pocket.
Is he doing what I think he’s doing?
“Goon,Dad. Do it!”
Cormac winks at Scout before opening the ring box to reveal the most beautiful diamond ring I’ve ever seen.
It’s simple and elegant, with a gold band and a singular oval stone in the center. It’s beyond anything I ever could have dreamed I would own, but it’s nothing in comparison to the man holding it.
